The Kansas City Chiefs didn't lose the Super Bowl in February to the Philadelphia Eagles just because of left tackle.
But it didn't help that the Chiefs had to slide Joe Thuney out there. A depleted offensive line was clobbered by Philly.
That's why rookie Josh Simmons is so important to Kansas City's 2025 season.
The first-round pick out of Ohio State will start at left tackle from the first snap of the campaign. It allows Kingsley Suamataia to move inside to left guard, too.
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Simmons will have Patrick Mahomes' blindside covered.
"The Chiefs are very excited by how rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has performed this summer," writes ESPN's Dan Graziano. "One person I spoke to mentioned Simmons' ability to recover mid-play when he's beaten off the snap. Coaches say he doesn't make the same mistake twice, and though some growing pains should be expected, the Chiefs have a high degree of trust in their first-round pick's ability to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side. With 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia moving inside to left guard, the Chiefs consider themselves more solid on the offensive line than they were last season, when they ended up having to play veteran guard Joe Thuney at left tackle during the postseason and were exposed against the Eagles in the Super Bowl."
Simmons didn't get to play in Ohio State's run to the national championship last season.
A left patellar tendon tear in October knocked him out for the season. It may also have contributed a bit to his slide to the end of the first round for the Chiefs to snag him.
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That looks already like it'll work out to be a great selection.
Simmons and the Chiefs open the season Friday night in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers. And if the big boys up front can keep Mahomes on his feet, the sky is the limit for the Chiefs' goals.
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